Passenger services on the River Thames are to be improved and more integrated with the rest of the capital’s transport system, in the latest effort to make better use of the waterway.

The moves were announced on Monday by Boris Johnson, London’s mayor, following the signing of an agreement between river boat operators, business groups, London boroughs along the river and Transport for London, the mayor’s transport organisation. Thames Clippers, the river’s main commuter operator, will accept payment for tickets with TfL’s popular Oyster card electronic payment system from November under the agreement.